Distillery District

During its heyday in the 19th century, Gooderham and Worts was the largest whisky distillery in the world. After shuttering for good in 1990, the 13-acre Victorian landmark lay abandoned for nearly a decade, until civic-minded developers proposed a plan for its restoration. The revitalized district reopened in 2003 as a mixed-use pedestrian "village," its industrial buildings newly occupied by independent boutiques, galleries and culinary artisans. The former cannery, reenvisioned as a creative incubator, now serves as studio and performance space for a community of emerging artists and designers. The neighborhood's wide, red brick lanes are ideal for an urban ramble. Be sure to stop into Hoi Bo, whose waxed canvas totes and simple linen dresses are handmade on-site, and book a tasting at Ontario Spring Water Sake (the only producer of locally brewed, unpasteurized sake in eastern North America). The legendary SOMA Chocolatemaker is also a must for hot cocoa and Douglas fir truffles.